Quota bill to go for vote in Rajya Sabha on Monday

New Delhi: The bill for quota in promotions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is likely to come up for voting in Rajya Sabha on Monday.

Voting will be held after the conclusion of debate whether to reserve promotions in government jobs for Dalits and tribals.

After a walk-out by the Samajwadi Party, the proposal was debated in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, with its greatest proponent Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati arguing for its exigent implementation.

The Samajwadi Party members walkout came hours after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged parliamentarians to let the Rajya Sabha function.

Singh had earlier met Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to break the impasse over the bill, but failed to reach a compromise.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath, however, said that he would hold discussions with the Samajwadi Party leaders to break the deadlock.

"The Samajwadi Party doesn't want this business (bill) to be taken up. I will be in the discussion with them and find a resolution to that. All situations are difficult in parliament," he said.

Earlier, the BSP chief, who was protesting against the frequent disruption over a Bill for providing reservation in promotion to SC/STs in government jobs, surprised all and questioned Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari for not initiating action against those members who were disrupting business in the upper house.

"I am not ready to listen to anything. We have seen in the last few days that every day the House is not allowed to function after 12 p.m. It is your responsibility to ensure that it functions. Who will ensure that it functions," Mayawati asked the chair from the Well as also from her seat on Wednesday.

"You are not seen here after 12p.m. What kind of House is this? You have to take decision what has to be done for this (ensuring the functioning of the House)," she added.

The quota bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in the Monsoon Session, but could not be taken up due to disruption on coal block issue.

The BSP has been demanding that the bill be passed, but the Samajwadi Party (SP) is opposing it.